Afghans to pose challenge to world’s best teams: Murad

KABUL (Pajhwok): Dr. Noor Mohammad Murad, Chief Executive Officer Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), has said the national side’s preparations for the World Cup are not confined to participation only, but to pose a challenge to the world’s best teams.

Afghanistan is drawn in the same group as four-time champions Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and one other qualifier in the ICC World Cup scheduled to start in February in Australia and New Zealand.

When asked what preparations the Afghan side has undergone for the showpiece so far, Murad told Pajhwok Afghan News that the national players had been engaged in tough practices over the past few months.

He said upcoming tours of Australia and New Zealand and the UAE and other friendly matches in the lead up to the World Cup were part of the side’s preparations.

“The national team has worked hard to find their way to the World Cup and they would continue preparing themseves in the lead up to the event,” he added.

He said it had not been easy to find way to the World Cup, but a result of continued matches and hardwork.

He expressed optimism the national team would pose a challenge not only to regional teams but to international ones. A strategy had been worked out to make the national team more efficient, he said.

He said ACB had hired services of leading trainers Peter Anderson and Andy Moles to better train the national players. He went on to say that “only competent players will be given a chance to come forward.”

He said the performance of Afghanistan’s team would help boost the country's image among the comity of nations.